Preserving the cultural heritage: An investigation into the feasibility of the OAIS model for application in small organisations

Purpose ‐ The purpose of this research is to assess the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) model from the perspective of small organisations and to offer a tentative methodology for the provision of a standard framework to serve the movement and preservation of digital materials and associated metadata between organisations, maintaining OAIS compliance throughout. Design/methodology/approach ‐ Structured analysis of the INGEST function, moving through three scenario-based transfers of digital materials, using Lavoie's economic models for digital preservation to demonstrate the relevance of the function and sub-functions. Findings ‐ Provides a conceptual example of how the OAIS model can be used in a multiple transfer context, working through three scenarios for one function of the standard. Describes how the research will be carried forward to complete the analytical framework and test with a real digital deposit. Practical implications ‐ Provides a means by which small organisations can begin to consider the preservation of their digital assets and assess their position in relation to the OAIS model. Originality/value ‐ This paper addresses the difficulties of practical implementation of the OAIS model and suggests a way forward for achieving seamless transfer of digital records that can be used by both small donor organisations and larger receiving institutions.